Six Questions For Every Day

REALITY

Hi all, Reality, What A Concept ! Now basically reality is not as cut and dry as it seems. Every persons reality is governed by their own perception and the way each individuals senses are received and interpreted. THIS IS WHY WHEN POLICE INVESTIGATE A CRIME THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT OR WITNESS STATEMENT TO AN INCIDENT ARE SELDOM THE SAME. This is also why we may all perceive the same God we have different concepts and beliefs. THEY ARE CHANNELED THROUGH OUR CULTURAL UPBRINGING, OUR ENVIRONMENTS, OUR BELIEF SYSTEMS, BY OUR INDIVIDUAL HISTORIES AS WELL AS MANY OTHER DISTORTION. It is our jobs as rational human beings to attempt to decipher our own "Rose Coloured Glasses" to see the truth as it really is rather than making quick judgements.

THE OTHER REALITY i WISH TO SPEAK OF TODAY IS ONE YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD OF.Basically you've heard the phrases " Just For Today" or " One Day At A Time". What I'm saying here is that you can't change the past in any shape or form what happened five minutes ago is past what happened thirty seconds ago is past. It's all HISTORY and unchangeable. Further more we cannot not know with absolute certainty what will happen in 5 seconds. one hour one day ETC... We can make educated plans and make arrangements, However we cannot know with absolute certainty that these will work out. There and old saying I like here '' Wait a second . wait there's a moment coming . there it goes WE JUST BLEW ANOTHER ONE. Another one I like is this little joke You want to know how to make your Higher Power laugh? == Tell them YOUR plans! I don't say this to tell you there is no hope. My point being is that there is only one true reality--- RIGHT NOW--!! Enjoy it !! LIVE IT !! BE IN IT!! Right Now is your life.. Life is what happens when your planning for it. Do Not Miss It. It can never be rewound or REPLAYED. Make the most out of NOW For it Truly is the only REALITY.

Remember God does not make Garbage

Self Supporting

Hi all, Today we are going to discuss this aspect. I know some of you are saying "but what does this have to do with staying clean and sober". And just as the pas two topics this is very integral to maintaining a clean and sober lifestyle. First off being self supporting is needed in the society we live in, it helps to improve the choices in are lives, the ability to live in a nicer community, the ability for better leisure time, the ability to have a healthier diet ETC... However the bigger aspects for you are the increase to your own self concept your own self worth and self respect which are major contributing factors in remaining clean and sober and to being relatively happy which again is one of the major contributing factor in remaining clean and sober.

Now in most cases this means getting a job and working for a living. Yea I guess alot of us wish we we born into a life of riches where there was a family fortune and could lead the life of luxury, or thyat we could retire, or win the lottery, however for the majority of us this is simply not the case.( for those of you that this is the case we will look further into that later or you can email me after rereading the post on keeping busy). Now back to those who need to work , first off it takes care of part of the earlier blog about idle time, and as already mentioned goes along way towards one's self worth and self respect.

However this then brings up a multitude of other issues. Let's begin with finances and/or budgeting, somewhat of a foriegn concept to the majority of us. oh yea we understand the concept but how experienced and accomplished are we in actuality. Actually doing the basics first like making sure the rent and/or mortgage is taken care of first before all else, then dividing what's left to take care of daily bills such as hydro, credit cards, transportation- whether by car payments, gas, insurance, etc or transit passes, taxi fares etc. cable/satelite, phone, cell phone, internet, food, all these are the normal basics plus maybe more for some, need to accounted for and taken care ( A MUST) before even considering extras such as tobacco, coffee money, movies, eating out, pizzas ETC. Do you really have a handle on this. If not this will create major stress and unhappiness leading to places we don't want to be. So these are a must to be considered and possibly adjusting your lifestyle and living arrangements to handle these issues, before it becomes a problem.

Now where do we work or find employment, first off preferably lets look at ourselves and evaluate what are we actually qualified for, secondly what do we enjoy ? what stimulates you gets you excited, have a passion for, a flair for, check into what oppotunities are there for these areas, or how and what do I need to do to become qualified to enter into these fields. I mention these strongly because lets face it if working in a position that you enjoy or at least you feel some satisfaction in doing, makjes working for a living much easier. However not all of us can get these positions. Most of us will need to take employment where it is available and sustainable. There is nothing wrong or less worthy about this. However there maybe times when we need to remember our gratitude lists, Being happy we have meaningful employment, being appreciative of the things that our paycheques allow us to do. having satisfaction of doing a job well done no matter what it may be. And knowing that you are self supporting and contributing to countless other lives just being employed and self supporting. This doesn't mean that you cannot always improve your situation.
Remember always Your are a child of the universe of GOD (whatever you choose as your God) and GOD never makes Garbage

The Life

One of the biggest downfalls to remaining clean and sober that I've witnessed is hearing newly recovering people complain about is being bored, getting anxious or what I call itchy feet. They go to work , a couple of meetings, coffe now and then, however then they start craving some kind of action. I've witnessed this over and over again, as alcoholics and/or addicts we lived in kaos and some sort of excitement and have lived in this for years, as well as the lights and action of a night life and a semblance of kaos. Even if this kaos is one of the things that got us to recovery. It is a lifestyle and part of our lives for what may seem forever, we have in some ways become kaos junkies. This is why so many early recovering people always seem to have a calamity happening or drama going on in their life's and others come to this other place where, there seems to be something missing or bored and always looking for something. this is because we haved lived in kaos for so long that we are accostumed to it. It feels strange and somewhat out of place without it. You will get over this and learn to appreciate and cherish this new found calmness in live.

However it is new and different, first we must recognize this and then combat it otherwise we face creating kaos which usually leads to relapse. We end up in situations and places where we just came from and wanted to escape. It can happen so simply and unexpectedly. So we must recognize this and take apropriate precautions.

The key is to Stay Busy. As well as hooked in with healthy people. Our sponsors and support group , let them know what's happening for you , your feelings, These feeling must remain in the light, this is where they die and others can help, in the dark , alone is where they fester and grow to defeat you.

Get involved, Do service work, spend time with sponsor and support group in activities, Physical activities are very helpful during this phase expecially sports. Volumteer for projects and activities in aspects of interest to YOU. Again keeping busy and feeling useful. It is very true here at this point that "Idle Hands are the devil's playground". The less idle time you have here during these times the better. Not to say there is anything wrong with just "chillin" once and awhile. However be aware of " Stinkin Thinkin". Stay away from old freinds, bars, places you used to hang, thinking I just looking, I can go and just have coffeee/pop. REMEMBER IF YOU RUN WITH THE WOLVES YOU WILL HOWL.
And Always Remember God does not Create Garbage

living sober

Another aspect of living sober that will stand you apart and make your sobriety more secure is the aspect of Honesty. Now I know you've already looked at honesty and are working hard at being honest. However what we are talking about is living honestly. Wnich is multi faceted, however once you can do this your chances of staying clean and sober will increase a hundred fold. The first aspect you already know about , being and speaking honestly, now that doesn't mean being mean or hurting another's feeling and blaming honesty there you can learn tact. I'm yalking about the regular stuff , like everybody cheats a little on their taxes or nobody tells the truth on surveys, the what has become "white lies" or acceptable untruths. for us this just starts a trend that we can extend as needed till we are back to our old lying ways which is back to cheating our value systems which undermines, our self worth and self condemnation. which enables us to go back to using.

Honesty is a effort in the beginning because in all reality there are whole aspects where we were not honest our whole lives. and let's face facts the society uses honesty only when iy benefits. We must make the effort after a time it will not be such an effort and the benefit are a wonderful feeling you will enjoy and all around your life will respect.

As well as living honesttly is not living in dishonest situations. You know the ones.

Living with integrity is living honestly, Not that you'll find alot of examples in our society. However you can be one. It is simply startedlet the person you are at meetings, and with your sponsor be the same person who is with the family and the same person at work, stop wearing masks or different roles, be who you honestly are, now this doesn't mean you do 5th steps at work and at the mall with strangers . It simply means be who you are with out putting on airs or pretending. Another way is Really consider everything you are asked befor agreeing, IE call me or lets go for coffeee friday or saturday can you give me ride to... Don't immediately say yes then later think of ways to get out of iy, or just blow it off, perhaps just saying i'll need to get back to you or call me later i'm not sure if i've got something planned. Make your YES Mean Yes and Your no mean No. People will respect this and you will respect yourself for this little trait. No matter whatever happens your word can never be taken from you make it worth something. Nothing will be respected more than your friends and families being able to trust you, and this they will do if they know absolutely that they can trust YOUR WORD, that when you say something they can trust it. The only way to build that trust is making sure that your yes means yes no matter what and your no mreans no no matter what.

Remember god does not make garbage

Embarking on your New Life

Hi there, Now I'm certain that facing the truth about yourself and looking at was not the easiest thing you've ever done, Now is where some of those insights are going to come into play, in all actuality that was the easy part now comes the real work---Sober Living, on a day to day basis. Now is where all those cliches and "stupid" little sayings come into play, as you go into the world SOBER and navigate all life's little pitfalls, triumphs and surprises. And you accept these life events SOBER and hopefully somewhat rationally without going "nuts" (Not Using The Steps). Getting Sober, that's a feat in itself. However Staying Sober, now that,s the trick. That's were going to look at now, as this is the ultimate goal. Staying sober with all that life has to throw at us. As most of us have not experienced most of life's situations Clean, without something to aid in celebrating or numbing life's "great little surprises".

The first of these I'd like to look at is Relationships;;; Our intimate relationships... the ones with boyfriends , girlfriends,, significant others, YOU know the ones. Now for those of you that are already in a relationship and has the support of a loved one as you have cleaned up, you may run into a little snag here as you both may expect everything to be rosy now that you've cleaned up. First off I strongly urge your significant other to find their own place to share their experiences and trials such as Al-Anon, Nar Anon ETC.. As they have their own individual things that need to be dealt with, and only They can resolve these. Now you are changing, your desires, wishes, everything is going to be changing, this is going to be difficult for your partner as they will perhaps have thought they knew you, however they knew the old you. You are going to have to learn how to communicate, and for most of us is a whole new thing. Learning how to talk with your partner HONESTLY and not just talk at them but to them, and then perhaps even something even more possibly a new concept of listening to them , communication is two parts 1 honestly talking about our wishes desires feelings ETC 2 listening to feedback and their feelings, wishes,desires without interruption, and not only listening but hearing. You might want to learn about paraphrasing. to know that you are actually hearing what is being said rather than just thinking you've heard what is being said. You may have to deal with your partner not understanding your changing and growth, they may have unresolved resentments over things that happened before you got clean or even resentments over your growth and changes. This is why I strongly recommend Al-Anon, Nar-Anon ETC for partners. However now you may have to be patient with them as they explore these feelings. Remember we were guilty of causing a lot of damage and pain.

As for you that are presently single, there is a very strong desire in us to feel accepted, loved, validated and just to be held by another. There is nothing wrong with this. However it is suggested that you give yourself a year before initiating any strong decisions, and getting involved in a relationship is a major decision. However you and I know that if I,m lucky maybe 1% of you will listen to this suggestion. Because don't you know I know this stuff I can handle it.Yea OK. That being said let's take a bit of a closer look at this. First off let me say there can nothing more beautiful or wonderful gift from God them Human Relations, being held sex ETC. However you have already shown a propensity to get hung up on good feelings, so it is quite easy to get caught up in the feelings of the act of sex thus using others for the feeling thereby again crossing your values and sub consciously self defeating yourself and causing pain to yourself and other's through our selfish nature. As well it is not unheard of for those such as ourselves to get caught up in the thought of being in love or the concept where we blind ourselves thus not being able to see the forest for the trees.

aside from that what do you know about doing life sober??? How many of these things have you ever done Clean? Have you ever been on a date Clean? have you ever really had deep conversations clean? Have you been clean long enough to truly know yourself and what you really desire in a special relationship? Have you ever had sex Clean??? Do you know yourself enough to know what a Clean you wants in a sexual relationship? And give to your partner? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN REJECTED CLEAN?Remember your making love to one of God's children!

One of the strangest things I've noticed is most of us end up in relationships and/or bed with another with less shopping than we'd spend on buying a vehicle. Yet this person and this decision may and will probably have more impact and possible far reaching consequences than a vehicle ever will.Since it is highly unlikely that I can get you to stay away from relationships and/or sex for a considerable amount of time to truly get to know the real you your becoming. I STRONGLY URGE YOU to at least make a list of what you truly want from a relationship, and what you truly desire in a significant other. This way I just might save you and another some painful and possible humiliating experiences.

Remember God doesn't make garbage

Welcome To Your New Life

Well if you have actually followed the directions and are at the end of set of steps. For those of you that this is their first series, then it has happened gradually, yet your way of thinking has gradually changed as well as your preception of life has changed so I guess welcome to your new life is actually quite belated. This change will continue as you continue to attend meetings, and you persue your new life. When you stand back in a quite moment of reflection it is quite profound. For me it was like looking back at another life. Somewhat surreal. May you continue to allow your higher power love, guide and protect you always. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER god does not create garbage.

Here are the steps we took: 12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

That is what the authors of the Big Book and millions before you did. To personalize the step for your study and action in the here and now, however, you may wish to rephrase it as the three suggestions which follow.

READING FOR STEP ONE

Big Book: Chapter 7, Working with Others.
12&12: Step 12

STEP 12a. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps....

The price. This little quote sums up the price we pay to get to this point:

My friend promised when these things were done I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I would have the elements of a way of living which answered all my problems. Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements. Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all. [Big Book, page 13, line 29]

Awakening as the result of what? The result, or consequence of taking the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is a Spiritual Awakening. Please reflect that this step does not say the awakening comes as the result of taking steps 1 though 11, those preceding Step 12. On the contrary, the awakening comes as the result of taking these (all of the twelve) steps, including Step 12. (If you disagree, that is wonderful. Keep on digesting these steps.)

An exclusive result? Notice, too, that the result of these 12 steps is a Spiritual awakening. We have heard that this awakening is the sole or exclusive result, otherwise our authors would have said "...a..." result. Careful reading of the Big Book, however, makes clear that there are many results of taking the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, even though your Spiritual Awakening may be the cardinal, or most significant, result.

Who/what awakens? The original draft of the Big Book said the result was a spiritual experience. However, experience was changed to awakening, because the experience was so subtle for most of us that we couldn’t really say when it happened, what it was like, or whether it had ever happened at all. Some folk believe that it is the Spirit, the God-head within us that awakens as the result of our taking the steps. Upon deeper reflection, however, we come to doubt that we could have ever gotten into A.A. and through the first 11 steps without the guidance of a Spiritual Power. Therefore, the Spirit has not been asleep to awaken. It is we, who have slept in the presence of the Sprit, that are now quickened to consciousness of the ever-presence of God.

Where do we find God? The awakening concept also clears up the question as to where and how do we find God. The answer, is, of course that God was within us from the very beginning. As to the where, the Big Book tells us at least twice exactly where God is:

With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience. [Big Book, page 569]

Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but He was there. He was as much a fact as we were. We found the Great Reality deep down within us. In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found. It was so with us. We can only clear the ground a bit. If our testimony helps sweep away prejudice, enables you to think honestly, encourages you to search diligently within yourself, then, if you wish, you can join us on the Broad Highway. [Big Book, page 55]

You may recall the song, the Blue Bird of Happiness, in which the bird–after being sought all over the place–is eventually found right in one’s own back yard.

How do we find God? As to how we establish conscious contact with our Spirit, the Big Book offers a simple and fool-proof spiritual starter kit for all who seek. Its four tools are sub-steps 2.1 through 2.4:

Our Spiritual Starter Kit

Step 2.1. We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and.. .[Big Book page 46, line 15]

Step 2.2. ...express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God. [Big Book page 46, line 16]

Step 2.3. Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you...we had to begin somewhere, so we used our own conception, however limited it was. [Big Book page 47, line 4]

Step 2.4. ...As soon as a man can say that he does believe or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. [Big Book page 47, line 16]


In our experience, God is revealed to us when we allow and participate in removal of the blocks we have placed before His countenance. These impedimenta are removed slowly, and

...He has come to all who have honestly sought Him. When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us! . [Big Book, page 57]

An evolutionary awakening. Most of us have become aware of His Presence only in retrospect, that is, by realizing that He is simply there, as He has been for some undetermined time:

The first evidence of the awakening is usually in the change that takes place in our actions. We stop doing the things that injure ourselves and others. We begin to do the things that demonstrate constructive service. This is because most of we alcoholics do not think ourselves into right actions, but we can act ourselves into right thinking.

Next, there is an evolution in awareness. The mind has discarded its old habits, and new habits and ideas are in charge.

Finally, we discover that the promises in the Big Book are coming true in our lives. The essence of these is the presence of an internal peace that would have been inconceivable were we still drinking and carrying-on as we once were.

The smears on the window of the Spirit within have been removed. His radiance and power shine upon the world and others through us. The light is not of our making, we are simply the channels through which it flows. But, we play a vital role in all this. It is ours to:

keep the lens free of the stain of ego

to keep the nozzle of God’s power opened

and to train it upon those who are desperate for sobriety and healing.

STEP 12b. ...I have tried to carry this message to alcoholics, ...

Carrying the A.A. message is mandatory. You have learned by now that carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to those who still suffer is an indispensable component of your own sobriety. You can uncover many quotations in the Big Book to affirm the absolute necessity of your carrying the A.A. message to other alcoholics. Here are but two examples:

Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. [Big Book. page 20, line 1]

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill. [Big Book. page 89, line 1

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends—this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives. [Big Book. page 89, line 15]

Where do newcomers come from? Circumstances in which we carry the message have changed significantly since the Big Book was written. In the old days, the drunk was found by or referred to an A.A. member, who qualified his prospect, often taking him through Step 3, before sponsoring his attendance at a meeting. Now-of-days, the prospect may call into a telephone exchange that either sends some of us out for a visit or arranges for the prospect to attend a meeting; the prospect may just show up at a meeting alone or with a friend; he may have met some of us at a hospital or penal institution; he may "graduate" from a drying-out institution; or, a judge might sentence the poor guy or gal to a number of meetings (without ever consulting with us first). Thus, open meetings and a cup of coffee afterwards serve as the primary screening vehicles through which we come into contact with raw recruits. We have, for the most part, learned that many of the drunks who really need to sober up are often reluctant to try the A.A. approach. Unfortunately, It is typically necessary for them to take the first move in seeking recovery.

Experience is indispensable. Given that we feel compassion for the suffering alcoholic and are willing to spend some time with him, the only real tool we have is experience. Your experience with recovery, though vital, is of less importance with the very new than your experience with alcoholic drinking preceding recovery. The best experience is your own experience. The new prospect will know right away that you are authentic. Without his being able to validate you, you are wasting your time, and his, too. Of secondary benefit is your ability to relate the experience of others you know in A.A. But, second-hand experience will usually suffice only to get the prospect to a meeting where he can meet a sober member with personal experience of an alcoholic situation similar to his own. The other tools in your kit, of course, are those which open the channel to a Higher Power.

With whom should you work?

With alcoholics. The first suggestion is that you carry the message to alcoholics. Lots of people come into A.A. with major problems that a compassionate member would like to help them out of. If we try to relieve newcomers from problems other than alcohol, we can get ourselves into uncharted waters in a hurry. Quite often we eventually discover that our own egos play a part in our trying to rescue those in need. Those with medical problems should see doctors. Those who are really out-of-balance in the head should see therapists. The financially strapped can usually manage to survive. Repair of a catastrophic family situation should probably be left to a counselor. Our unique domain of excellence is avoidance of the next drink, although it is natural for us to try to be useful in other areas as well.

With alcoholics who really want to recover. When you are asked to help another, you are quite in order to ask, "Are you willing to go to any lengths to stop drinking alcohol?" If they are, continue. One of the worst traps we can get into is to try to sell A.A. This puts us on the defensive, where we cannot afford to be. If your prospect is not sick and desperate enough to grasp at about any straw, then he might have to try another approach. A.A. is the "best deal in town for a buck". But, there are others, too, and they might seem more palatable. Sometimes, we weep at how often real alcoholics turn, again and again, to the ultimate teacher–alcohol. If your prospect continues to drink in spite of your assistance, he just might be better off under the guidance of someone else.

With alcoholics who ask for your help. Continue with those who ask for your help. But don’t be misled that all the things which might be asked of you are valid "A.A. requests". Carrying the alcoholic for more than a day or two, if ever, is something we avoid. It may come to the point that you must decide what you think the newcomer really needs, and you then offer that to him or her. If that isn’t what they want, then they have plenty of other sober members to find it from. There comes a point, too, at which the prospect either follows the A.A. path, or he wants to do it his own way. Sometimes we need to give him enough slack to stumble. Hopefully, he doesn’t also "slip".

Getting the right help. In many instances you might believe that the newcomer will be better off with an organization other than A.A. or with a different A.A. member, and you should try to steer them there. A good ground-rule is that you should have gotten out of the kinds of predicaments the newcomer is in, so you can explain what you did to get out. Otherwise, you can provide only head-learning where actions taken and experiences learned are needed. We mentioned elsewhere that A.A. is like a three-legged stool. Each is necessary to keep it from falling on its face. These are:

Process. The 12 steps. They will work to recover from just about anything.

Fellowship. Working with other recovered alcoholics is necessary. Those lacking direct personal experience in alcoholism carry the message poorly.

Spirit. This whole thing works only in the presence of and under the direction of God.

Do not short-change newcomers by letting them depend upon you to help them out of situations outside our own experience. In addition, it is usually not a good idea to undertake extensive therapy with a candidate you are or might be sexually or emotionally attracted to. With rare exceptions, women work with women, and men work with men.

What is the source of recovery, anyway? Few of us have escaped the exhilaration of getting a new prospect sober–or kick ourselves for letting him slip into the debauch of relapse–only to realize that we didn’t do it. At most, we carried the A.A. message and offered some compassion and comfort, for a while. We have also come to know that the newcomer didn’t bring about his own sobriety, either. Nor did the Group or the book. It was the result of you and your prospect using the other tools in your recovery tool-kit. Yes, we gain the certain knowledge that God, the Creator of the Universe, Himself, does the work. Period.

The best 12th step might just be you. Words are often cheap. The message that best gets through the haze and cynicism of the alcoholic is you–your situation and behavior. Do you have what the newcomer wants, not so much in terms of your possessions, but, more correctly, would the newcomer want to be like you. This takes us right to the pay-off. Your life has been spiritualized and you are living by the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

STEP 12c. ...and I have tried to practice these principles in all of my affairs.

These Principles? And which principles might be these principles, pray tell? Most members answer with, the steps. They are partly right. For the moment, let us resolve that these principles are the Alcoholics Anonymous principles of recovery as set forth in the Big Book (and the 12&12). They are not some other collection of principles.

Principles. To be sure we know what we are talking about, it is necessary to decide just what a principle really is. A principle is a fundamental or basic tenet, truth or rule. Principles are the foundation of truth underlying the laws of nature, and, especially, belief systems. For the purposes of A.A., principles might be thought of as basic action guidelines. They represent the belief system against which we measure thoughts or actions.

We have compiled a listing of many of the principles of recovery in the Big Book in Principles ... The principles of recovery [rev. 4/17/1997]

But, the "principles" addressed thus far are but a few of the principles that should guide our lives. For example:

Patience, tolerance, understanding and love are the watchwords. [Big Book, page 118 line 13]

These are four additional principles we affectionately call PLUT (Patience, Love, Understanding, and Tolerance). If you continue in the latter chapters, you will also encounter inclusion of Compassion and Kindness amongst the necessary virtues for recovery. Thus, our favorite acronym, PLUCKT, comes about. It is perfectly correct to suggest that others who know this bit of inside knowledge should "Get PLUCKT" for serenity. (grin) [NOTE: since this was written, PLUCKT has expanded to GSSSHHHPLUCKTTM. Please refer to the topic following entitled Virtue ....... Virtues for Sound Human Relationships GSSSHHHPLUCKTTM [rev. 3/30/1997]

You are going to have an exciting time identifying and practicing A.A.'s principles. It is suggested that you and some friends start with the first printed page in the Big Book (then the 12&12), and that you each read a paragraph while the others ask themselves if the paragraph contains any basic action guidelines for recovery from alcoholism, for quality living in general or for spiritual growth. If so, write them down.

In all of our affairs. Once we have learned the talk, we walk like we talk. Knowing what the principles of recovery in A.A. are is the easy part. The key to Step 12 is that we practice/exercise or act in accordance with these A.A. principles in all of our affairs (thoughts, words and deeds) 24 hours of each day during each day of every year. Wow! Now we understand better what is meant by:

What an order, I can’t go through with it. [Big Book, page 118 line 13]

But we do. Of course we can’t be perfect (saints). We just get better and better and better....... New habits eventually displace old habits, and we don’t even notice the dramatic changes that have taken place in our attitude and behavior. The rest of the world notices, though. They really do appreciate our new and constructive contribution rather than the destruction we once delivered.

So, we are new people, behaving under new guidelines; we describe and demonstrate to other A.A.s the message of A.A.; and we have a spiritual experience. Each of these three parts of Step 12 reinforces the other two. Each is vital to recovery.

Graduating from A.A. Newcomers sometimes feel that coming into A.A. is something like attending school. There are classes, home work, grades, and graduation. While there is some validity to this analogy, ponder these Questions are Answers:

1. Q. How long do I have to attend these darn meetings? A. Until you want to.
2. Q. How does A.A. work? A. Very, very slowly.

Back to the school idea. A.A. does resemble a country school, where all grades are taught in the same class room:

Students in each grade teach those in the grade below what they ought to learn.

Each student prods those on the same grade to advance to the next, so that they can pull him up there when they finally arrive there.

Each grade teaches all the other grades what they ought to unlearn.

Those who do their best at teaching become the best learners.

Nobody is in charge but the Spirit. As one advances, life gets better and better. Who could want more? We don’t even think about graduating. Why would we want to? This is what happens......

....alcoholics have ... what are called vital spiritual experiences. ...They appear to be in the nature of huge emotional displacements and rearrangements. Ideas, emotions, and attitudes which were once the guiding forces of the lives of these men are suddenly cast to one side, and a completely new set of conceptions and motives begin to dominate them. [Big Book, page 27, line 14]

Step 12